Biography for Roger Moore

Perhaps he will always be remembered as the guy who replaced Sean Connery in the James Bond series, arguably something he never lived down. Roger Moore was born in Stockwell, London, in 1927, the son of a policeman. He first wanted to be an artist, but got into films full time after becoming an extra in the late forties. Moore also served in the British Military During the Second World War. He came to America in 1953. Suave, extremely handsome, and an excellent actor, he got a contract with MGM . His initial foray met with mixed success, with movies like Diane (1956) and Interrupted Melody (1955), as well as The Last Time I Saw Paris (1954).

Moore went into television in the 1950s in shows like "Ivanhoe" (1958) and "The Alaskans" (1959), but probably got the most recognition from "Maverick" (1957), as cousin Beau. In 1962 he got his big breakthrough, at least internationally, as "The Saint" (1962). The show made him a superstar and he became very successful thereafter. Moore ended his run as the Saint, and was one of the premier stars of the world, but he was not catching on in America. In an effort to change this, he agreed to star with Tony Curtis in ITC's "The Persuaders!" (1971), but although hugely popular in Europe, it did not catch on in the US and was cancelled. Just prior to making the series, he starred in the dark The Man Who Haunted Himself (1970), which proved there was far more to Moore than the light-hearted roles he had previously accepted.

Next, he was offered and accepted the role of James Bond, and once audiences got used to the change of style from Connery’s portrayal, they also accepted him. Live and Let Die (1973), his first Bond movie, grossed more outside of America than Diamonds Are Forever (1971) - Connery's last outing as James Bond. He went on to star in another six Bond films, before bowing out after A View to a Kill (1985) in 1985. He was 57 at the time the film was made and was looking a little too old for Bond - it was possibly one film too many.

In between times, there had been more success with appearances in films such as That Lucky Touch (1975), Shout at the Devil (1976), The Wild Geese (1978), Escape to Athena (1979), and North Sea Hijack (1980). Despite his fame from the Bond films and many others, the US never completely took to him until he starred in The Cannonball Run (1981) alongside Burt Reynolds, a big hit there.

After relinquishing his role as Bond, his work load tended to diminish a little, though he did star in the American Box office flop, Feuer, Eis & Dynamit (1990) (Fire, Ice & Dynamite), as well as the comedy, Bullseye! (1990), with Michael Caine. He did the overlooked comedy Bed & Breakfast (1992/I), as well as the TV movie The Man Who Wouldn't Die (1995) (TV), and then the major Jean-Claude Van Damme flop, The Quest (1996/I). Moore then took second rate roles such as Spice World (1997), and the American TV series "The Dream Team" (1999). Although his film work may have slowed down, he is still very much in the public eye, be it appearing on TV chat shows or hosting documentaries.